Lake Mary, which had a pair of 16-game winning streaks during the season, finished with a 32-3 record. Tate (26-8) captured its second state title in three years.

Tate Coach Randy Putman said the ''road work'' his team put in this season was the secret to the Aggies championship.

''We had a plan and it worked,'' Putman said. Their plan was to play as few home games as possible in getting ready for the playoffs.

''We knew to win this thing we would have to do it on the road,'' Putman said. ''We lived out of suitcases this season. We played only five home games.''

Putman's game plan for the championship contest wasn't too shabby, either. It was to make Lake Mary make the plays. We were going to make them throw us out,'' Putman said. ''We were going to run whenever we got the chance.''

Tate stated its running in the bottom of the second after Mike Schmit's solo home run gave Lake Mary a 1-0 lead in the top of the inning.

Tate scored four times in the running.With two outs Putman sent slow- footed Greg Blackmon home from second on a single to left by David Grant. Putman and Tate was challenging the arm of Lake Mary's T.J. Sutton. But Sutton bobbled the ball and then threw a high throw to the plate.

When both Lake Mary catcher Ryan Lisle and pitcher Steve Shakar went after the high throw, it left the plate unprotected and Mike Emmons alertly was sent home by Putman.

''We were going to be aggressive,'' Putman said. ''That's one of the things that got us here.''

A passed ball allowed Grant to score, and Brian Howell doubled home Marc Seibert with the fourth run of the inning.

The Rams cut the deficit to 4-3 on a two-run double by Mike Pinckes in the top of the third. Wes Weger walked and Shane Letterio singled before Pinckes doubled to left center.

Tate got those runs back in the bottom of the third as the Rams committed two more errors. Emmons doubled home a run and then scored on an error as the Aggies increased their lead to 6-3.

Three unearned runs in the fifth was added insurance. ''Tate came out to play the championship game,'' Lake Mary Coach Allen Tuttle said. ''We came out like it was the first game of the season.

''We hadn't played a game like this all season. Kicking the ball, wild pitches and passed balls. We didn't execute.''

Emmons, a junior right-hander, allowed four hits -- only one over the final four innings -- and struck out nine while walking two.

''I knew I had to pitch the game of my life,'' Emmons said. ''I had to keep the ball away from them and make them go after bad pitches.''

Shakar, the losing pitcher, deserved a better fate. Only four of Tate's nine runs were earned.

''Steve did a good job,'' Tuttle said. ''He was all we had after Mike Schmit Thursday's winner in the semifinals.''

One of the more elated Aggies was shortstop Travis Fryman who played little league ball in Maitland as a 12-year-old. ''This is a great feeling,'' Fryman said. ''I played against these guys when I was in Maitland and never could beat them.''